A computer running a Microsoft Windows operating system organizes its data like you would organize files in a file cabinet. Each cabinet has multiple drawers. Each drawer contains folders. Each folder contains important papers that you need to file away. The Windows file system structure parallels this type of organization.

Logical Drives and Cabinet Drawers

Based on the file cabinet scenario, each cabinet drawer is represented as a logical drive on a Windows computer. For example, the logical drive "C:" is usually where your personal and system data is stored. The "D:" drive may contain files used for computer recovery that should only be managed by a system administrator. The "E:" drive may give you access to a DVD player. When a digital camera is plugged into a Windows computer, a new logical drive "F:" may appear, which gives you access to the photo files on the camera.

Folders

Some common folders that come by default on a Windows environment include Documents, Pictures, Music, Videos and Downloads. The Documents folder is a logical place to store word-processing files, spreadsheets and presentations. The Pictures folder is appropriate for digital pictures that you created, copied or scanned from external sources such as email, scanner, Internet or digital camera. The Music folder is suitable for music files that you downloaded from the Internet, ripped from a CD or composed with a music program. The Videos folder is proper for videos downloaded from the Internet, copied from a camcorder or created from a movie maker software. The Downloads folder is recommended for programs and files downloaded from the Internet. You may also create folders and sub folders. Microsoft Windows uses a file naming convention such as "C:\Users\Sarah\Documents," where the file name is delineated by the backslash ("\") sign.

Files

Papers and items filed inside a physical file cabinet folder are represented as files in a Microsoft Windows environment. A file can be a spreadsheet, drawing, music or application program. A Windows file name can have up to 260 characters. A Windows file usually has a file extension, which helps Windows understand what type it is and how to read it. A regular word-processing file with a ".txt" file extension may invoke a Windows Notepad or Wordpad program to open it. A picture file with a JPG file extension may invoke a Windows picture-viewer program. In naming a Windows file, you should avoid these characters: \, /, ?, :, *, ", >, < and |.

Recycle Bin

When you delete a file on Microsoft Windows, rest assured that, by default, the file is not permanently deleted from the computer. A deleted file first gets recycled into the Recycle Bin folder, which normally resides on the desktop. You can restore the deleted files from the Recycle Bin. You can also configure the Recycle Bin to increase its storage, remove the "Delete confirmation" dialog or not to recycle files to it. If you choose to do the last item, then Windows permanently deletes files without first recycling them into the bin.

About the Author

Moriah Chesler began writing professionally in 1989. She started as a software engineer documenting projects and company products. She has also contributed to the "Joomla!" community magazine, blogged for Teach Me Programming and JoomlaIsrael.net and authored several e-books on Bible vocabulary. Chesler has a Bachelor of Engineering from Dartmouth College and a Bachelor of Arts in mathematics and electrical engineering from Smith College.